"I've never heard of an infection test before."
"Maybe it's because we're from the Seventh Wall City."
"Tsk, the wall breach happened, and it's good to be cautious, but still, are they not looking down on us? Even sending that crappy bus."
"Shh, they'll hear you."
"So what? It's not like anything will happen if they hear me."
The people in charge of the test had lined up already. And the students had assembled in five lines, despite their anger.
Jesse ignored the annoyed chatter of the students, he looked around the place again for a means of escape, however, the place was surrounded by tens of personnel.
"Are you okay?" Maxwell asked, placing his hand on Jesse's shoulder.
"Yes." Jesse replied.
[Steel Mentality has failed]
"Dammit." He cursed through his teeth. The test was probably because of the evolved zombie he killed, but he couldn't help but feel anxious.
If he was caught, then he would either be killed on sight or transported to a research center, where he would become nothing more than a lab rat or a unique research subject for their petty shenanigans, however, Jesse wasn't willing to live out the rest of his life like that. Even though it meant quitting the academy, he would, rather than getting caught.
The lines that the students had formed were dwindling quickly.
The system too was oddly quiet and this alone pissed Jesse further.
[Steel Mentality has failed]
[Host will slowly lose his rationality]
'What? No'
Jesse unclenched his fist, and took slow, deep breaths.
What made a zombie different from a human was the lack of rationality, and if he lost his in the spur of the moment, then it would be nothing less that an invitation for trouble.
"Ha!"
[Steel Mentality have been implemented]
He breathed out a sigh of relief and glanced at the dwindling line with less than ten students in front of him.
At the other side, a personnel left his spot and walked to one of the ladies who were conducting the tests, he bent slightly, whispering something into her ear.
Seeing a chance to escape, Jesse left the line and walked as fast as he could to the deserted spot.
"-Attention all students-"
"-Due to unforseen circumstances, only the eye and temperature tests would be conducted, however, your blood samples will be taken for further testing-"
"-Remember to write down your name after your blood is drawn for easy identification. Do not leave without writing down your name- I repeat, do not leave without writing down your name-"
[Due to certain privacy policies of SSAD, only the infection test would be carried out on your blood. DNA or blood type tests would not be carried out]
'Well. Thank you.' Jesse thought sarcastically to the system. He walked back to his line and stood behind Avila and Maxwell.
How was that supposed to help? The infection test would still be carried out, anyway.
He paused and looked up quickly in realization. If DNA and blood type tests would not be conducted, then it didn't matter whose blood it was, as long as it was human blood.
'The blood test would be carried out later on since the personnel seem to be in a hurry, therefore, switching the blood tubes would solve it... hopefully.'
"Hey, Kiddo. Look here." A voice snapped Jesse back to reality. He was the last person in his line and it was already his turn.
"Ah, sorry."
"Just open your eyes." The man said, holding up Jesse's chin as he shone a torch into his eyes.
"Hmm, no signs of grey, no blood clots, no signs of reddening around the iris." The man mumbled, turning Jesse's head around, "You're fine. Go to the other side." He added, finally letting go.
Jesse walked to the other lady and she simply flashed a temporal thermometer on his forward and waved him off.
He walked to the stand where Avila and Maxwell were already waiting.
"Stretch out your hand please." The lady instructed calmy and Jesse stretched out his hand.
Though his heart was pounding, he held his breath and patiently watched as she inserted a needle into his hand.
"You may leave after writing your name." She said while transferring his blood into a tube.
Jesse wrote down his name and quickly left the place.
"What took you so long?" Maxwell asked, draping his hand around Jesse's shoulder.
"The test."
Avila walked behind them. She stared at Jesse's lean back and her lips turned down. The snippy kid did try to escape and she noticed it, though he came running back even before he could make his way out.
"Jesse." She called out and he turned, "You dropped this." She said, raising a handkerchief up.
"It's not mine."
"Is it not? My mistake then." She smiled, stuffing in the handkerchief into her pocket.
"That handkerchief is yours. Stop bothering Jesse." Maxwell sighed.
"Tsk, stop whining."
"-Rest comfortably in your dorms because as of tomorrow, your life in the academy shall begin-"
"Let's head to the dorm first." Maxwell said, turning to the other direction.
"Where are you going to?" Avila paused.
"The dorm, of course."
"The dorm is the other way." She crossed her arms.
"No. Your dorm is the other way, did you expect that both girls and boys would be in the same dorm?" Maxwell sighed yet again, pushing his hair down.
"What a hassle." Avila grumbled and turned the other way.
"Good Lord, I never want to see her again."
"Me too." Jesse murmured.
"She's such a cutie though, just a little bit crazy." Maxwell shook his head, "She looks so much like Cynthia Braun."
"Who's Cynthia Braun?" Jesse asked.
"You don't know Cynthia Braun? From the Braun family? Are you even sure you live in the seventh wall city?"
Jesse shrugged, "I can't know every family, can I?"
'Besides, Avila's last name is Braun too.'
However, Jesse didn't say that. He couldn't explain how he knew, hence, keeping shut would save him a lot of trouble.
"They're the only family with a full house of ability users. Though, they all have different abilities, unlike the Rowans who all have fire ability." Maxwell explained patiently, "I heard their youngest member was not born with an ability, so they had to try using a ceteorin serum. The child awakened, in a family where kids were born with abilities, it would be such a shame."
"Why? What matters is that the child awakened, right?" Jesse turned to Maxwell.
"Not for them. Even with the ability, they would still be treated like outcasts unless they have the strongest ability in the family."
"What's the need of proving your strength to a family like that?"
"There's every need. What better way to grow if not to crush vile people underneath your feet." Maxwell laughed, "Oh, we're here." He paused when his wristband tinged.